Conveyor for bottle crate unloading machine



Aug. 21, 1956 B. COPPlNG K 2,759,593

CONVEYOR FOR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE Original Filed March 29,1949 12 Sheets-Sheen 1 INVENTOR. BRM/V PP/(VG BY E5 j f l vg* K M TTYS.

Aug. 21, 1956 B. coPPlNG coNvEYoR FOR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE 12Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 29. 1949 1N VEN TOR. BRM/V COPP/N6ATTYS.

Aug. 21, 1956 B, COPPlNG 2,759,593

CONVEYOR FOR BOTTL CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE Original Filed March 29. 194912 Sheets-Sheer. 3

INVENTOR. e 'BR/AIV COPP/NG BY @g-NZ:

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Aug. 2l, 1956 B. coPP'lNG CONVEYOR FOR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADVNG MACHINE 12sheeis-sheen 4 Original Filed March 29, 1949 ml l IN VEN TOR.

ug- 21, 1956 B. coPPlNG 2,759,593

CONVEYOR FOR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE Original Filed March 29,1949 l2 Shees-Sheerl 5 INVENTOR. BRM/V COPP/NG Aug. 2l, 1956 B. coPPlNG2,759,593

CoNvEYoR EOE BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE Orifzinal Fild March '29,1949 12 sheets-,sheen e FIG. 2 1. n

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1N VEN TOR.

All@ 21, 1956 B. coPPlNG CONVEYOR FOR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE l2Sheets-Sheet. 7

Original Filed March 29, 1949 ATTYS.

CONVEYOR FOR BTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE original meh Ma'rcn 29, 1949B. COPPING Aug. 21, 1956 12 sheet-shee- 8 R.G m m B Aug. 21,- 1956 B.coPPlNG 2,759,593

CONVEYOR FCR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE Original Filed March 29,1949 l2 Shee'ts-Shee. l0

1,7% INVENTOR.

Byanm ATTYS.

Aug. 21, 1956 B. coPPlNG CONVEYOR FOR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINEOriginal Filed March 29, 1949 TTYS.

Aug. 21, 1956 Otiginal Filed March 29, 1949 B. coPPlNG 2,759,593

coNvEYoR EOE BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheer. l2

,I N V EN TOR. BRIAN @OPP/N6 ATTYS.

2,759,593 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 CONVEYOR FOR BOTTLE CRATE UNLOADIN GMACHINE Brian Copping, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignor to Atkron, Inc.,Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application March29, 1949, Serial No. 84,025, now Patent No. 2,696,927, dated December14, 1954. Divided and this application June 4, 1954, Serial No. 436,905

7 Claims. (Cl. 198-179) This invention relates to a machine forunloading empty bottles from crates, and more particularly it relates toa completely automatic machine for unloading empty bottles, for example,bottles of the soft drink or beer type, from crates wherein the bottlesextend above the crates, and transferring such bottles to anotherdevice, such as a bottle washing machine. This application is a divisionof my copending application Serial No. 84,025, liled March 29, 1949, nowPatent No. 2,696,927, granted December 14, 1954.

It has long been desirable to provide a continuously operating machinefor unloading empty bottles from crates and delivering them to washingmachines so that an adequate supply of bottles for the washing machinesis always available, and many attempts have been made to furnish suchdevices. However, none of these prior devices with which I am familiarhas been successful, due sometimes to the high rate of breakage of thebottles by the machine, sometimes to faulty mechanism or faultyoperation of the mechanism, and sometimes for other reasons.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machinewhich will rapidly remove bottles from their crates and deliver them,with a minimum of breakage, to a bottle washing machine. My machineincludes an inclined conveyor which carries the crates with theirbottles into the path of a plurality of aligned, continuously movingbottle gripping lingers, whereby all the bottles carried in the lirstrow transversely of a crate are simultaneously engaged by Isaid lingersand removed from the crate, with successive rows of bottles beingengaged by successively aligned lingers until the crate is empty, afterwhich the empty crate is conveyed to any suitable point out of the pathof the operating mechanism of the machine. By continually feeding crateswith bottles to the inclined conveyor, the removal of bottles from thecrates, one transverse row at a time, is continuons until all bottleshave been removed and the empty crates passed on.

Another object is to provide novel bottle gripping lingers which areproperly aligned transversely and longitudinally of the machine, and toprovide suitable mechanism to operate the fingers at the proper time tolift the bottles from the crates, as well as at the proper time torelease the bottles at selected points remote from the pick-up station.

In prior machines with which I am familiar it has been customary toarrange each linger so that it is intended to pick up a selected bottle,and if for any reason the bottle and nger are not in proper alignment atthe time the pick-up is to be made, the bottle will remain in the crateand pass on with the latter. It is a further object of this invention toobviate the necessity of assigning `any particular linger to pick up anyparticular bottle, and yet to be sure that all bottles are picked up bythe lingers. This is accomplished by proper and relatively close spacingof the lingers in longitudinal alignment so that a bottle may be pickedup by one finger if properly aligned therewith, but if the alignment ofbottle and finger is improper so that only a portion of a bottle isengaged by the linger, the next following linger will quickly engage aportion of the bottle and the latter will be carried between the twolingers.

With bottles of the type primarily intended for handling with mymachine, there are two areas that may be engaged by the lingers. One isunder the bead or lip formed at the mouth of the bottle, while the otheris under the bulbous neck portion of the bottle, known as there-inforcement, which is below said bead. When bottles are engaged bythe fingers under the bulbous neck portion, subsequent permanent releaseof the bottles may require them to drop too far to remain upright, andunder such conditions it is a further object of this invention, beforepermanent release of the bottles, to permit temporary release thereoflong enough for the lingers to re-engage the bottles under the beadportion at the bottle mouth. When the bottles are thereafter permanentlyreleased the distance they are required to drop will be materiallyreduced.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character referred towherein after the bottles have been picked up by the lingers they arecarried by the lingers to discharge stations located above atransversely operating conveyor arranged below the fingers and adaptedto carry the bottles to a bottle washing machine or other apparatus.

A further object is to provide a different discharge station for eachlongitudinal row of bottles carried by the lingers, all of whichstations are above said transverse conveyor and all of which stationsare spaced from each other, whereby bottles discharged at each stationwill move with said transverse conveyor in dilferent, sub- -stantiallyparallel, vertical rows, so that the bottles in each row will interferewith the movement of bottles in any other row.

A further object is to elevate or tilt portions of the transverseconveyor directly under the bottle discharge stations, so that anytendency for the bottles to fall over as they engage the transverseconveyor will be overcome.

A further object is to provide guide means for said bottles associatedwith said transverse conveyor so that after said bottles pass from undersaid fingers they are moved in parallel rows to a washing machine orother apparatus.

A further object is to provide agitating means at the entrance to saidguide means to prevent the bottles from clogging or blocking saidentrance.

A further object is to provide a safety device in the form of amicroswitch located in the path of said transverse conveyor which willbe operated by the bottles to stop the movement of the bottle carryinglingers in the event so many bottles accumulate on the transverseconveyor as to interfere with the normal movement of the bottles fromthe lingers to the washing machine.

A further object is to provide means for guiding the bottles and cratesas they are carried by the inclined conveyor into position to be engagedby the lingers, and to also provide means for insuring an uprightposition of the bottles at the time they are engaged by the lingers.

Occasionally a bottle is found in upside down position in a crate, andif allowed to pass into the machine in such position, it may seriouslydamage the mechanism, particularly the gripping lingers. It is a furtherobject of this invention to provide safety mechanism including amicroswitch which will not interfere with passage of bottles in uprightposition, but which will obstruct the passage of any upside down bottleand stop further operation of the machine until such bottle is removedor properly positioned in the crate.

3 in most instances lthe crates passing through my machine .containtwenty-four permanent compartments, each of which carries a bottle.However, there is in use today a crate having no permanent compartmentsof bottle size, but which has four equal size larger compartments,

each of which isI adapted to receive one removable sixbottle carrierthat fits snugly in the crate so that there are four of the six-bottlecarriers and still twenty-four bottles in the crate. Each-ofthesecarriers usually has a permanent handle portion that Aextends abovethe Vtops of the bottles, which handles constitute possible elements ofinterference with the machine, and the six-bottle carriers may haveatendency to lift out of the-crate with the bottles as the bottles arelifted. 1n my machine, however, it is a further objectIto provide meanslfor guiding and holding these handle portions so that they not only donot interfere with the operation of the machine, but may be utilized toprevent the carriers from being lifted out of the crates. Additionalmeans are also provided to engage the top of the side walls of thecarriers to hold the carriers in the crates as the bottles vare liftedtherefrom by the fingers.

A further object is to synchronize the speeds of the various conveyorsand nger mechanisms so that the passage of bottles through the machinewill be continuous and without interference from the time the vbottlesare removed from their crates until they are delivered to the washingmachine.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and partial section of the machinetaken substantially -on line 1 -1 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a partial front elevation and partial section takensubstantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a similar section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with parts of the machine removed forclarity, and showing four six-bottle carriers arranged with theirbottles in one of the crates,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on line6-6 of Fig. 5 with some parts in elevation,

Fig. 6a is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form ofsix-bottle carriers,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the front end of the machinewith parts broken vaway and shown in section to better illustrate theoperation `of the fingers in lifting "f the bottles from the crates,

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on lin'e 8 8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of one set of two fingerstaken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, i

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section 'taken substantially on line 10-10 ofFig. 7,

Fig. 11 is a similar enlarged section taken substantially on line 11-11of Fig. 1,

Fig. 12 is a section taken substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. 11, withsome parts shown in elevation,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section taken Substantially on line 13-13 ofFig. 12,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged partial plan taken substantially on line 14-14 ofFig. 1,

Fig. 15 is a partial plan showing the transverse conveyor with bottlesthereon and a partial section taken substantially on line 15-15 of Fig.13,

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation showing the safetymechanism for stopping the machine if an upside down bottle tries toenter the machine.

Fig. 17 is a section ltaken substantially on line 17-17 of Fig. 16,

Fig. 1S is a fragmentary section taken substantially on line 18-18 ofFig. 16,

Fig. 19 is a similar section taken substantially on line 19-f19of Fig.17,

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on lineZtl-20 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 21 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machine takenfrom the location indicated by line 21.-21 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on line22-22 of Fig. 15,

Fig. 23 is an enlarged plan of the tilting mechanism for the transverseconveyor taken substantially on line 23-23 of Fig. v2, with thetransverse conveyor removed, and

Fig. 24 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machine takenfrom the location indicated by line 24-24 of Fig. 15.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 20 designates as a whole, agenerally rectangular frame for the machine, comprising a pair ofspaced, front vertical supports 21, a pair of intermediate, spacedvertical supports 22 and 22', and a pair of spaced, rear verticalsupports 23 preferably in the form of I-beams and larger than the othersupports, all of which supports are adapted to rest on a oor or the likeof a lbuilding in which the machine is used.

Supports 21 are connected at their upper ends by a transverse framemember 24, while one of the supports 21 is also connected at its upperend with the front end of a longitudinal frame member 25, 'L-shaped inthis instance, the rear end of which is connected to the upper end ofsupport 22. The other support 21 is connected at its upper end with thefront end of a longitudinal frame member A25 arranged parallel withmember 25, but member 25 in addition to being connected to the upper endof support 22' is also connected at its rear end to one of the rearsupports 23.

The lower end of each support 2.1 is also connected with the front 'endof a lower longitudinal frame member 26, also preferably L-shaped, withthe rear end of each member 26 being connected to the lower end of oneof the supports 23, while each member 26 is connected intermediate itsends to the lower ends of the supports 22 and 22 respectively.

As will be observed from Figs. 1 and 2, rear supports 23 extend abovethe horizontal plane in which lie the upper longitudinal frame members25 and 25', and their upper ends support the rear ends of a pair ofspaced, l0ngitudinal U-beams 27. The latter beams extend parallel withthe frame members y25 and 2S, and intermediate their ends are 'supportedon spaced vertical supports 2S which extend upwardly from frame members2S and 25. Adjacent their front ends, beams 27 are reduced in width and'are inclined upwardly, as indicated at 29. Additional,inclined'supports 30 for the beams 27 extend upwardly from the lowerframe members 26, and the front ends of beams '27 are connected togetherby a transverse member 31.

The rear'ends of beams 27 may be connected by a transverse member 32,and the entire frame may be additionally braced by lower transversemembers 33 and 34.

At substantially a right angle to the frame 2t? and below the rearportions of the beams 27, a second generally rectangular frame,indicated as a whole by the` numeral '35, is connected to the frame 20.As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, frame 35 comprises a pair of spaced, parallelLbeams 36 and 37, with beam 36 being connected at one end to framemember 25 by welding or other suitable means and being connected to theupper end of support 22' through a bracket 38 secured to the lattersupport. Beam 36 is suitably connected intermediate its ends to theupper end of support 22, while its other end has a section of I-beam 39bolted or welded thereto so that an adjustable supporting leg 4t) may besecured to the lower surface of section 39 in a manner to support theupper surface of beam 36 in substantially the same horizontal plane asthe upper surface of frame members 25 and 25.

One end of beam 37 is also suitably connected to frame member 25 and issecured to each of the rear supports 23 by means of brackets 41 (one ofwhich is shown in Fig. l) carried by each support 23. The other end ofbeam 37 has a section of I-beam similar to section 39 secured theretoand is supported on an adjustable leg similar to leg 4d. The outer endsof the sections 39 may be connected by a transverse member 42.

Mounted in the frame is a conveyor, indicated as a whole by the numeral43, for bottle crates, which has an inclined portion 44 and a horizontalportion 45. The frame for this conveyor comprises two parallel, spacedsets of upper and lower U-'beams 46 and 47, the beams in each set beingjoined together by spaced bolts 48 (Fig. 3) or by welding, and beingarranged on opposite sides of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 3. Asmore clearly shown in Fig. l, each set of beams 46 and 47 has aninclined portion substantially parallel with the inclined portions 29 ofbeams 27, with its upper end extending forwardly of the vertical planein which lie the supports 21, and above the plane in which lie the framemembers and 25'. From their upper ends the inclination of each set ofbeams 46 and 47 continues downwardly as indicated in Fig. l until nearthe base of the frame 2t) where each set of beams changes its directionand continues in a horizontal direction to the rear end of frame 20. Theinclined and horizontal portions of each set of beams 46 and 47 areformed integral, preferably by cutting straight lengths of the beamsintermediate their ends and welding them together in the area indicatedby the numeral 49 to form the desired angle for the inclined portions,which in this instance is about 23 from the horizontal.

The two sets of beams 46 and 47 are supported adjacent their front endson a cross member 50 to which they may be welded, and which cross membermay be welded or otherwise suitably secured between the frame members 25and 2S. Intermediate their ends these sets of beams are supportedkonplates 51 to which they may be suitably secured, and which plates inturn are suitably secured to the lower frame members 26 The rear ends ofeach beam 47 are suitably secured to the rear supports 23, while eachbeam 46 terminates short of the rear end of beams 47, as indicated at52. If desired, additional cross bracing members (not shown) may besecured between the two sets of beams, as will -be understood.

Associated with the conveyor `frame is an endless belt conveyor 53 whichpasses around an idler roller 54, journaled for rotation between beams47 near the upper end of the conveyor frame. The upper run of the beltconveyor is to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, and it next engages ininclined position a plurality of similar idler rollers 54 journaled forrotation between beams 47, then passes around a smaller idler roller 5Sjournaled for rotation between beams 47, after which it passesdownwardly and under a larger idler roller 56 journaled for rotationbetween the supporting plates 51, and upwardly over another idler roller57 journaled for rotation between beams 47, so that it may continue itsrun in a horizontal position. During its upper horizontal run, the beltconveyor next engages a plurality of spaced, small idler rollers 58which are journaled for rotation between beams 47, after which it passesaround an idler roller 59 journaled for rotation between the rearsupports 23 and begins its lower run in the opposite direction.

During its lower run, the belt conveyor passes under an idler roller 60mounted for rotation between the plates 51, then between a driven roller61, the shaft 62 of which is journaled for rotation between a pair ofdepending brackets 63 carried by the beams 47, anda roller 64, the shaft65 of which is journaled 4for rotation lbetween the beams 47. Next thebelt conveyor passes over an idler roller 66 journaled 4for rotationbetween a pair of brackets 67 depending from the beams 47, and continuesin inclined position back to roller 54.

Adjacent the front of the frame 20, a pair of transverse base members 69are suitably secured between the lower frame members 26. These basemembers have secured thereto a platform 70 that supports a motor 71 anda gear reduction unit 72. A shaft 73 which is driven by the motorcarries an outer sprocket 74 mounted for rotation with the shaft, vandan endless drive chain 75 engages this sprocket as well as a sprocket 76mounted on shaft 62 so as to rotate the latter and roller 61. Thus itVwill be seen that the belt conveyor 53 is driven by frictionalengagement with the roller 61. In turn, the movement of belt conveyor 53causes rotation of roller 64 which is utilized to drive another part ofthe mechanism to `be later referred to. Either of the end rollers 54 and5%, or the center rollers 55 and 57 may be adjustably mounted to controlthe tension of the belt conveyor 53 in conventional manner.

For the sake of clarity, the bottles carried by the device have beenomitted in Figs. l and 2, but it will Ibe understood that crates 77 withbottles therein are adapted to enter the machine at the top of theinclined portion of the conveyor and are carried down the incline duringthe upper run of the conveyor. Before the crates reach the bottom of theinclined portion of the conveyor, the bottles are removed therefrom aswill be later explained, and the empty crates continue down the inclineand across the upper horizontal run of the conveyor to the rear end ofthe machine where they may be manually or otherwise taken away from themachine.

As will be more clearly noted from Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a transverselymovable L-shaped guide rail 78 extends upwardly and inwardly from eachbeam 46 and is arranged parallel therewith for a substantial distancealong its inclined portion. Each rail 78 is movably secured to one ofthe beams 46 through the medium of a pair of spaced U-shaped brackets 79which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to beams 46. Each bracket79 has a movable rod 79 extending therethrough (see Figs. 3 and 20),with the inner end of each rod being welded torail 7S, while the outerends thereof have a collar 80 secured to the rod by a suitable setscrew. Intermediate its ends, and between the upstanding arms of bracket79, each rod 79' has another collar 80 secured thereto by a set screw,while a coil spring 81 surrounds the rod with one end of the springbearing against collar and the other end of the spring bearing againstthe arm of bracket 79 which is between collars 80 and 80'. Thustransverse movement of each rod 79' and consequently of the rails 78 ispermitted to the extent allowed by the spacing of collars St) and 80',and springs 81 have a normal bias tending to urge the rails 78 towardeach other.

The forward end portions of rails 78 are ared outwardly as indicated at82 to more readily permit the crates 77 with bottles 83 to enter themachine. In their normal positions rails 78 are spaced far enough apartto permit a bottle crate to pass between them, but if the walls of acrate should strike a rail 78, the latter will merely be moved outwardlyagainst the action of springs 81 and no damage will be done. It will benoted from Fig. 3 that bottles 33 are of the size and type that projectabove the tops of the crates in which they are carried.

Supplementing the guide means for the crates 77 are additional guidemeans for the bottles 83, which also serve to keep the bottles in properposition in the crates prior to their removal from the crates. As moreclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a cross bar 84 is welded or otherwisesecured between the beams 27 across their reduced portions 29 inwardlyof the front ends of the beams. Adjacent each end, bar 84 has adepending bolt S5 threaded thereto and held by a nut 86, while the lowerend of each bolt S5 is formed with an annular socket member 87 whichreceives an annular shaft 88 secured thereto by set screws S9.Intermediate its ends, shaft 88 has a pair of spaced socket members 90secured thereto by set screws 91. One member 90 has a channeled guide 92welded thereto and having depending sides 93 and 94, while the othermember 90 has welded thereto a channeled guide 95 having depending sides96 and 97. These guides 92 and 95 extend parallel with guide rails 78for a distance equal to slightly less than the length of one of thecrates 77, as indicated in Fig. 4.

An angular bracket 9S is welded at one end to side 93 of guide 92 andits opposite end carries a small depending roller 99, while a similarangular bracket 100 has one end welded to side 97 of guide 95, with itsopposite end carrying a roller 101 similar to roller 99. Between side 94of guide 92 and side 96 of guide 95, a double bracket 102 is Welded andcarries a depending roller 103. The arrangement of the rollers 99, 101and 103, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4, is forwardly of the front endsof the guides 92 and 95, while the proper relative spacing of theserollers and guides with respect to bottles passing into the machine ismore clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the latter gure, counting from left toright, it will be seen that the bottles in the rst row will have theirupper portions pass between roller 99 and the outwardly turned lower endof side 93 of guide 92, the bottles in the second row will pass betweenthe outwardly turned lower end of side 94 of guide 92 and roller 103,those in the third row will pass between the latter roller and theoutwardly turned lower end of side 96 of guide 95, while those in thefourth row will pass between the outwardly turned lower end of side 97of guide 95 and roller 101. Thus, any lateral tilting of the bottles intheir crates will be corrected by the respective rollers and guides. Itshould also be pointed out that the use of set screws 89 and 91 withshaft 88 permits the guides 92 and 95, and the rollers 99, 101 and 103to be readily arranged at the proper angle with respect to the bottles83 which obviously will be in inclined position as they start down theinclined portion of the conveyor.

In all the gures of the drawings illustrating crates with bottlestherein, except Figs. 5, 6 and 6a, a standard crate containingtwenty-four xed compartments for bottles has been shown. Figs. and 6show a modified form of crate 77 of the same over-all size as crate 77,having no permanent compartments of bottle size, but which has fourequal size larger compartments 104, each of which is adapted to receiveone removable six-bottle carrier 105. Four of these carriers 105 titsnugly in a crate, as indicated in Fig. 5, and each carrier has apermanent handle portion 106 that extends above the tops of the bottles,into the channels 92 and 95, while the side walls of carriers 105 extendslightly above the top of crate 77. Many of such crates and carriers arein use today. It will be observed from Fig. 5 that these handles 106 arelocated between rows 1 and 2, and between rows 3 and 4 of the bottles inthe carriers. In some machines these handles might interfere with properoperation of the mechanism, but with my machine these handles willsimply pass between the sides of the guides 92 and 95 and will be out ofthe way of any moving mechanism.

Since the carriers 105 are intended tc be removable from crates of thetype like 77', it is possible that these carriers might have a tendencyto be lifted from the crates as the bottles are removed from thecarriers during their passage through the machine. I provide mechanismto prevent lifting of the carriers from the crates as the bottles arelifted therefrom. Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the upper portion ofeach guide rail 78 is provided with an elongated plate 107 that isslightly longer than onethird of the length of a crate 77 or 77. Eachplate 107 is provided adjacent each end with a transverse elongatedopening 108 through which a bolt 109 extends for threaded engagementwith rail 78 (see Fig. 6). Since openings 108 are larger than the bolts109 it will be seen that the plates 107 are capable of limitedtransverse movement withA respect tol rails 78. To control this trans'-verse movement, one end of a Hat spring 110 is suitably secured to eachbolt 109, while the other end of each spring 110 is similarly secured toa bolt 111 threaded into plates 107. Each spring 110 is curved slightlyand intermediate its ends engages a pin 112 carried by the plates 107.Thus, the springs 110 have a normal bias tending to urge the plates 107inwardly with respect to rails 78. It will be more clearly observed fromFigs. 4 and 5 that each plate 107 is of least width at its forward end,increases gradually in width to approximately its midportion, and thenremains of constant Width to its rear end. Hence, in their innerpositions the forward portions of each plate 107 extend at least overthe top of the side walls of crates 77 or 77, while the rear portions ofthese plates extend over the top of the outer side Walls of carriers incrates 77 (see Figs. 5 and 6). In the event bottles in the outer rowsshould strike plates 107 while passing through the machine, the plateswill move outwardly against the action of springs and allow the bottlesto pass, but the outward movement of these plates will not be enough tomove their rear portions from above the top of the outer side walls ofcarriers 105, so that it will not be possible to lift these carriers outof the crates 77 while they are restrained by plates 107.

Fig. 6a shows a modied form of carrier 105', also in use today, which issimilar to carrier 105 except that the side walls of carrier 105' arehigher than the side walls of carrier 105, so that it is not possiblefor these higher side walls to pass under plates 107. Thus, these higherside walls will merely force the plates 107 outwardly, but carriers 105will be restrained from lifting out of their crates 77 because the topsof their handles 106 will strike the tops of channels 92 and 95 andprevent any substantial upward movement of carriers 105.

It is possible that as the bottles are removed from either crates 77 or77' there may be a tendency for these crates themselves to move upwardlywith the bottles. As will be noted from Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the plates10'!" will at least partially restrain upward movement of the crates,but it is desirable to have additional means for holding down thesecrates. As more clearly shown in Figs. 4, 20 and 2l, spaced from and onopposite sides of each plate 107, the upper surface of each guide rail78 is provided with a` pair of vertical, spaced, integral cars 107. Eachpair of these ears pivotally receives a bell crank lever 108intermediate the ends of the latter, with the horizontal arms of thelevers 103 directed to ward each other as indicated in.. Fig. 4. Eachhorizontal arm of the levers 108 carries a roller 109' arranged to lieinwardly of the rails 78 so that these rollers will be in the verticalplane of the outer side walls of crates 77 or '77', as indicated in Fig.20. A coil spring 110' is connected between the upper ends of thevertical arms of levers 108', and this spring has a normal tendency topull the upper ends of these vertical arms toward each other. Hence, ifno crates were under the rollers 109', the spring 110 will force thehorizontal arms of levers 10S downwardly until they engage the uppersurface of rails 78, so that the bottom of the rollers 109' will bebelow the upper surface of rails 78, and in a plane below thelongitudinal plane in which lie the upper surfaces of the crates 77 and77. Thus, as the top portion of the outer sides of a crate strike therollers 109, the latter will be raised to allow the crate to pass underthe rollers, while the action of spring 110 forcing the rollersdownwardly will maintain these rollers in contact with the top of theouter sides of the crate and prevent the crate from moving upwardly asbottles are lifted out of the crate.

Referring now to the bottle handling mechanism of the machine, includingthe bottle gripping fingers, the latter are clearly illustrated in Figs.8 to l0 inclusive. Since the present machine is designed primarily tohandle crates containing twenty-four bottles arranged four in arowuansversely of the crate and six in a row lonmessage 9 gitudinally ofthe crate, eachy bottle gripping unit consists of four tranverselyaligned lingers adapted to pick up simultaneously each transverse row offour bottles as the latter pass into position to be engaged by thefingers. It will be apparent, however, that the bottle gripping unitsmay contain more or less than four fingers,

if desired.

As shown, each bottle gripping unit is indicated as a who-le by thenumeral 113 and comprises an elongated channel bar 114 having a pair ofspaced, inverted U- shaped members 115 preferably spot welded to bar 11dintermediate the ends thereof and interiorly of its channel. The sides116 and 117 of each member 115 constitute finger elements fixed withrespect to bar 114 having their free ends flanged outwardly as at 118,at an angle of approximately 90, and members 115 may be additionallyflanged inwardly, as indicated in the lower portion of Fig. 8, tostrengthen them. Each finger element 116 and 117 is of a width equal toabout one and one-half times the diameter of a bottle under its beadportion or under its bulbous neck portion.

Co-operating with each member 115 is a pair of finger elements 119 and120, movable with respect to bar 114, and being pivotally mounted to thelatter bar intermediate their ends. Each finger element 119 and 120 isshaped substantially like a bell crank lever, having a short arm 121 anda long arm 122 bent at an angle to each other which is slightly greaterthan a right angle, with the free end of each arm 122 being flangedinwardly as at 123, at an angle of approximately 90.

Each arm 122 is provided adjacent its junction with arm 121 with anelongated transverse opening 124i which pivotally receives a tongue 125formed integral with bar 114, so that each arm 122 passes through bar114 and is pivotally connected to the latter (see Fig. 9), to allowmovement of finger element 119 and 120 from the position shown in Fig. 9to that shown in Fig. 10 and vice versa. The manner of connecting eacharm 122 with its tongue 125 is best understood from Fig. 9. As shown,bar 114 is rst cut transversely on lines 126 and 127, and a portion ofthe metal is cut out to leave an opening 128. This provides a pair oftabs 129 which are then bent to an angley of about 90 (not shown) withrespect to bar 114. Openings 130 are then cut longitudinally in bar 114to form tongue 125. Arms 122 may now be inserted through bar 114 withtongues 125 extending through openings 124, after which the tabs 129 arebent back to their original position, thus preventing removal of arms122 from their tongues 125, while permitting limited pivotal movement ofeach finger element 119 and 120.

Means are provided to control the pivotal movement of each pair offinger elements 119 and 120. As illustrated, finger elements 116 and 117are provided intermediate their ends with aligned openings 131 throughwhich extend a coil spring 132, the opposite ends of which are suitablysecured to finger elements 119 and 120, respectively. Between eachfinger element 116 and 119, and 117 and 120, a tubular spacer sleeve 133surrounds the spring 132, and these spacers may be freely mounted on thespring or they may be formed integral with elements 116 and 117. Springs132 have a normal bias tending to urge elements 119 and 120 toward eachother, but because of the position of the spacers 133 this movementtoward each other is restricted so that elements 119 and 120 willco-operate with elements 116 and 117 to form a plurality of bottlegripping members. The bottle gripping position of one element 117 andone element 120 is shown in Fig. 10, and the other elements cooperate inthe same manner to grip a bottle, as will be understood. By moving arms121 of the movable finger elements toward bar 114, arms 122 will bemoved outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 8, to non-gripping position.

At each of its ends, bar 114 has an angle bracket 134 riveted orotherwise rigidly secured thereto, which bracket has a portionsubstantially at a right angle with respect to bar 114 that fixedlyreceives a -stub shaft 125 on which is mounted a roller 136. A pluralityof bars 114 having their associated finger elements and rollers areconnected together in an endless chain arrangement to provide an endlessconveyor, indicated a-s a whole by the numeral 137, for picking upbottles 83 from their crates 77 and 77 near the front end `of themachine and carrying the bottles to the rear of the machine. The linkagearrangement forming the chains 138 will be better understood from Figs.7 and S` As shown, links 139 are secured in overlapping relation to stubshafts on each side of rollers 135 to provide a continuous chainconnected to each end of bars 114.

Near the front end of the machine, bearings 140 are suitably supportedon beams 27 and rotatably receive a driven shaft 141. inwardly of eachend of shaft 141 a sprocket wheel 142 is fixed on the 1latter shaft forrotation therewith, preferably by means of set screws 143, and one ofthe chains 138 passes around each sprocket wheel with the sprocket teethengaging between the rollers 136, as indicated in Fig. 7. Each chain 13Salso passes around an idler :sprocket 144 (see Fig. 1) mounted forrotation on shaft 145 which is fixed in bearings 146 suitably secured tobeams 27 adjacent their rear ends. The sprockets 142 may be readilyadjusted by manipulating the set screws 143 so as to insure propertransverse positioning of each bar 114 with respect to the chains 133.

As indicated in Fig. l, chains 138 are driven in a counterclockwisedirection by means of a sprocket wheel 147 fixed on one end of shaft141, which sprocket is rotated by a drive chain 148 that also passesover a Isprocket (not shown) on drive shaft 73, which is arranged on thelatter shaft inwardly `of sprocket 74. During the lower run of conveyor137, chains 13S are supported on L--shaped bars 149 (see Figs. 2 and 7)welded or otherwise secured to the inner faces of beams 27, which barsextend parallel with beams 27 and terminate near each sprocket 142 and144. During the upper run of conveyor 137, chains 138 are supported onL-shaped bars 150, coextensive with bars 149 and in vertical alignmenttherewith. Bars 150 are welded or otherwise secured to transversebracing members 151 arranged at selected intervals under the bars 150,which members 151 are in turn welded to the upper ends yof verticalsupports 152, the lower end-s of v7hich are welded or `otherwisesuitably secured to beams Keyed on shaft 141 in spaced relation is apair of cam rollers 153 (see Fig. 8) of approximately the same diameteras sprocket wheels 142. At the time chains 133 complete their upper runand start around the sprockets 142, each of the rollers 153 is in thepath of movement of one set lof the movable finger elements 119 and121), so that as each roller 153 engages each pair of short arms 121,the Ilatter are moved inwardly to open the bottle gripping fingers asshown in the upper portion of Fig. 8. As successive pairs of grippingfingers contact the rollers 153, the fingers will be opened, and eachpair of gripping fingers remain in open position while it moves throughan arc of about As soon as the chains 138 leave sprockets 142 and starttheir lower run, the arms 121 of each pair of gripping fingers will moveout of engagement with rollers 153 and springs 132 will move thegripping fingers to closed position.

As will be more clearly observed from Figs. 7 and 8, before the grippingfingers move out of engagement with rollers 153, a plurality of thebottles 83 will move into the path of said fingers, so that as thefingers close, the end portions 118 and 123 of the fingers will engagethe bottles below the bulbous neck or reinforcement on each bottle.Since the path of movement of the gripping ngers after they engage thebottles is substantially hori- Zontal, and the path of movement of thecrates carrying the bottles is down an incline of about 23 with respectto the horizontal, it will be apparent that the bottles will be removedfrom the crates as the latter and the fingers continue to move in theirrespective directions. In Fig. 7 it will be noted that as the bottlesare initially gripped by the fingers, the bottles are at' an angle ofabout 23. Then as the bottles are lifted, their angle graduallydecreases until the bottles are held upright after they clear the topsof the crates.

lt is to be further noted that if a selected transverse row of bottleshappens to be in proper alignment with a selected transverse row offingers as the latter are ready to pick up such bottles, said row offingers will readiiy hold such bottles and remove them from the crate,as indicated at the right side of Fig. 7. If. however, the alignment ofa selected row of bottles with a selected row of fingers is improper forthe latter to pick up the bottles without assistance, the properoperation cf the machine will not be affected, since the next followingrow c-f fingers will quickly cooperate with the selected row of fingersand the bottles will be picked up and carried between the two rows offingers, as is also indicated in Fig. 7. This feature of the inventionis accomplished by relatively close longitudinal spacing of the rows offingers so that any two of the rows will cooperate to engage thebottles, if necessary, before the bottles can pass out of the zone whereit is possible for them to be engaged by the fingers. Thus, it is highlyimprobable, if not impossible, for any bottle to escape being picked upby the fingers.

After the bottles 83 are picked up from their crates they are carriedtoward the rear of the machine, or toward the right as viewed in Figs.1, 7 and l2. Since the bottles are engaged beneath their reinforcementsby the fingers, upon release from the fingers they would have to drop adistance at least equal to the distance from the reinforcement to thetop of the bottle, in order to drop clear of the fingers. 1t has beenfound that a drop of such distance is undesirable, since many of thebottles do not remain upright, but fall over and interfere with otherbottles. To shorten this distance the bottles would ordinarily have todrop from the fingers, I provide mechanism which permits the bottles topreliminarily drop a part of their distance before they are finallydropped from the fingers.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 11 and l2, a pair Aor" spaced idler rollers154 are arranged in the path of travel toward the rear of the machine ofarms 121 of the gripping fingers. Rollers 154 are mounted for rotationwith a shaft 155, the reduced ends of which are journaled in dependingbrackets 156 secured at 157 to cross frame members 153, which in turnare welded or otherwise secured to the upper surfaces `of beams 27. Eachroller 154 is arranged whereby when a set of gripping fingers 119 and120 engages one of the rollers, the arms 121 of the fingers will bedepressed to open the fingers and permit the bottles to drop downward.

The bottles are permitted to drop a predetermined distance where theyare received on a small longitudinal conveyor, indicated as a whole bythe numeral 159. The conveyor 159 is formed of four spaced chain members160 having relatively small links, each chain member being wide enoughto receive a bottle 83, as indicated in Fig. 11. Chain members 160 aredriven by sprockets 161 mounted for rotation on a large driven shaft162, the reduced ends of which are journaled in depending side plates163 secured as at 164 to the longitudinal frame members 25 and One endof shaft 162 extends outwardly of frame member 25 and has a drivesprocket 165 secured thereto, which receives a drive chain 166 that alsopasses around a sprocket 167 carried ony the end of shaft 65, so thatshaft 162 and the chain members 160 may be driven by frictionalengagement of the roller 64 on shaft 65 with the conveyor belt 53. Thechain members 160 pass over a horizontal table or support 168, which issecured as at 169 to inwardly extending flanges on the upper end of sideplates 163, and around idler sprockets 176 rnounled for rotation on ashaft 171 fixed between the side plates 163.

The upper run of the chain members is in the same direction and at thesame speed as the lower run of the bottle gripping fingers, and this run0f each chain member is for a distance which will allo'w about threebottles in longitudinal alignment to be received thereon. use of thetable 168 over which the chains pass in sures proper planar alignment ofthe bottles, and the latter are permitted to drop only a distancesufficient to permit the gripping fingers to re-engage the bottles undertheir lip portions. This reengagement of the gripping fingers under thelip portions of the bottles will take place as soon as the fingers passbeyond the rollers 154 and before the bottles reach the rear end ofconveyor 159, as indicated in Fig. 12.

After the bottles pass conveyor 159 they are carried by the grippingfingers to positions above a conveyor, indicated as a whole by thenumeral 172. The latter conveyor moves substantially at a right angle tothe gripping fingers and under the latter, and each longitudinal row ofbottles is discharged from the fingers onto conveyor 1 72 at a differentdischarge station, so that the bottles discharged from one longitudinalrow will not interfere with those from another row either at the time ofdischarge or as the bottles move with conveyor 172.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 14, three spaced transverse bars173, 174 and 175 are suitably secured between the beams 27, above theconveyor 172. Viewing the longitudinal rows of bottles as carried by thegripping fingers in Fig. 14, from right to left we will call the fourrows A, B, C and D. A longitudinal roller carrying arm 176 has one endsecured to bar 174, is secured intermediate its ends by a screw 177 tobar 173, and its opposite end is bifurcated to rotatably receive aroller 178. The latter roller is arranged above row A of the bottles(see Fic. 13) in the path of travel of the arms 121 of the movablefinger elements 119 that co-operate with finger elements 116 to carrythe bottles in row A, and as each of these arms 121 engages roller 178it is depressed to release its bottle and permit the latter to drop ontoconveyor 172. Thus, roller 178 in effect constitutes a discharge stationfor the bottles in row A, since these bottles are successivelydischarged from the gripping fingers as they pass under roller 17S. Assoon as the bottles are received on conveyor 172 they pass with thelatter in row A toward the left as viewed in Fig. 13 and toward theright as viewed in Fig. 14.

The discharge station for the bottles in row B comprises a roller 179mounted in the bifurcated end of a carrying arm 186, the opposite end ofwhich is secured to bar 175, while a screw secures this arm intermediateits ends to bar 174. Roller 179 is arranged in the path of travel ofarms 121 of the movable linger elements 120 that cooperate with fingerelements 117 to carry the bottles in row B, and the bottles in thelatter row are successively discharged from the gripping fingers as theypass under roller 179 onto conveyor 172, on which they travel in row B.It will be noted from Fig. 14 that roller 179 is spaced rearwardly ofthe' machine from roller 178 a sufiicient distance to preventinterference between the bottles of rows A and B as they are dischargedand as they travel on conveyor 172 in their respective rows A and B.-

Similarly, the discharge station for the bottles in row C comprises aroller 182 mounted in the bifur'catedl end of a carrying arm 183, heother' end of which is secured to bar 173, while a screw 184 securesthis arm intermediate its ends to bar 174. Roller 182 is arranged in thepath of travel of arms 121 of the movable finger elements 119 thatco-operate with finger elements 116 to carry the bottles in row C, andthe bottles in the latter row will be successively discharged from thegripping fingers a'sthey pass under roller 182 onto conveyor 172, o'nwhich they travel in row C. Roller 182 is spaced rearwardly of th'emachine from roller 179 about the same distance that the latter isspaced from roller 178. Hence, there will be no interference between thebottles-of r'o'ws A, B arid C as 13 they are discharged and as theytravel on conveyor 172.

Likewise, the discharge station for the bottles in row D comprises aroller 185 mounted in the bifurcated end of a carrying arm 186, theopposite end of which is secured to bar 174, while a screw 187 securesthis arm intermediate its ends to bar 175. Roller 185 is arranged in thepath of travel of arms 121 of the movable finger elements 120 thatco-operate with finger elements 117 to carry the bottles in row D. Asroller 185 depresses the arms 121 to release the bottles in row D in thesame manner that the bottles are released by rollers 178, 179 and 182 inrows A, B and C, respectively, the bottles in row D will be successivelydischarged from the gripping fingers as they pass under roller 185 ontoconveyor 172, on which they travel in row D. Roller 185 is spacedrearwardly of the machine from roller 182 about the same distance thatthe latter is spaced from roller 179, so that there will be nointerference between the bottles in one row with those in any other roweither as they are discharged or as they travel on conveyor 172.

Conveyor 172 comprises an endless belt 188 that travels clockwise asviewed in Fig. 2. It passes around a large driven roller 189 mounted ona shaft 190, then over an idler roller 191 mounted for rotation betweenthe l-beam sections 39, then around an idler roller 192 mounted forrotation between the I-beams 36 and 37, then across the upper surface ofa horizontal table or support 193 that is welded or otherwise suitablysecured between the I- beams 36 and 37, then around an idler roller 194mounted for rotation between the I-beams 36 and 37, then over an idlerroller 195 mounted for rotation between the I-beam sections 39, and backto its starting point on roller 189.

Shaft 190 is mounted between the free ends of a pair of spaced arms 196(one of which may be seen in Fig. 2),

the opposite ends of which are pivoted at 197 to spaced vertical framemembers 198 (one shown in Fig. 2) suitably secured between longitudinalframe members 25 and 26. Also secured between frame members 198 is avertical plate 199 that carries a motor 200 and a gear reduction unit201. A shaft 202 driven by the motor, carries a sprocket wheel 203 thatengages a drive chain 204 which also engages a larger sprocket Wheel 205secured on shaft 190, so that the latter shaft and roller 189 may bedriven by motor 200. The arrangement is such that the belt 188 supportsthe roller 189 in proper position to drive the belt, and at the sametime the Weight of the roller, shaft 190, arms 196, chain 204 andsprocket 205 will properly tension the belt.

Even though the distance the bottles are required to drop from thegripping fingers to conveyor belt 188 has been reduced by preliminarilydropping the bottles on conveyor 159 so that they are engaged by thefingers under the lip instead of under the reinforcement of the bottles,it has been found that if the movement of belt 188 is in a truehorizontal plane transversely of the moving gripping fingers and bottlesat the time the latter are dropped, there is a tendency for some of thebottles to tilt and even to fall over upon engagement with belt 188.Since the upper run of belt 188 is clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, themovement of this belt when truly horizontal, upon engagement by some ofthe bottles, moves the bottoms of such bottles faster than the topsthereof in the direction the belt is moving, thus causing the bottles totilt or fall backward in the opposite direction from that in which thebelt is moving.

To overcome this tendency of the bottles to tilt or fall upon contactwith belt 188, I provide a slightly slanting area on belt 188 directlyunder each of the bottle discharge rollers 178, 179, 182 and 185. InFig. 23 I have shown a part of the frame of conveyor 172 with belt 188and table 193 removed. This part of the frame includes a plurality ofspaced L-beams 206 connected transversely of the frame to I-beams 36 and37, and a plurality of spaced, longitudinal L-beams 207 suitably securedto beams 206. Journaled between I-beams 37 and the first L-beam 207(viewed from the right in Fig. 23) is a shaft 208 that has fixed theretoan adjustable ramp member 209, the free end of which extends towardroller 192 and is preferably slightly curved, as indicated in Fig. 22.The outer end of shaft 208 extends through an integral collar 210 formedon beam 37, and a set screw 211 extends through this collar forengagement with shaft 208 to hold the latter and the ramp in the desiredangular position. The outer end of shaft 208 may be squared to receive atool for turning this shaft. Ramp 209 is located directly underdischarge roller 185.

Directly under discharge roller 182 is an adjustable ramp member 212,identical with member 209, fixed at one end on shaft 213 that isjournaled between I-beam 37 and the L-beams 207 which is third from theright in Fig. 23. The outer end of shaft 213 extends through an integralcollar 214 on beam 37 and has a set screw 215 co-operating therewith tohold ramp 212 at the desired angle.

Similarly, an adjustable ramp member 216, identical with members 209 and212, is located directly under discharge roller 179, and has one endfixed to a shaft 217 that is journaled between l-beam 37 and the L-beam207 which is fifth from the right in Fig. 23. The outer end of shaft 217extends through an integral collar 218 on beam 37 and has a set screw219 associated therewith to hold ramp 216 at the desired angle,

Also, directly beneath discharge roller 178 is an adjustable ramp member228, similar to the other three ramp members, that has one end fixed toa shaft 221 which is journaled between the I-beams 36 and 37. Beam 37has an integral collar 222 thereon which receives one end of shaft 221,and a set screw 223 co-operates therewith to hold ramp 220 at thedesired angle.

In order to provide slanting areas on the belt 188 by the use of ramps209, 212, 216 and 220, it is necessary to tilt the ramps at an angle toallow the free ends thereof to extend above the upper surface of table193. This is accomplished by providing a substantially rectangularopening 224 (one of which may be seen in Fig. 22) in the table 193 foreach of the ramps, through which openings the ramps are tilted, asindicated in Fig. 22, and locked in proper position by means of the setscrews. The angle at which the ramps extend may be changed to suit thesize of bottle passing through the machine, and with the conventionalsix-ounce bottle it has been found that in most instances a suitableangle will be obtained if the free end of each ramp is raised aboutone-eighth of an inch above the plane of the upper surface of table 193.After release from the gripping fingers, the bottles will fall on theslanting areas of belt 188 in about the position shown in Fig. 22 andany tendency for the bottles to tilt or fall backwards will be overcomeby the slant of the belt, so that the bottles will move in properupright position with the belt as they leave the slanting areas.

As more clearly shown in Figs. l and l5, a side rail 225 is secured toI-beam 36, parallel therewith, by means of angle brackets 226, so thatthe lower edge of rail 225 is just over one edge of belt 188 and isspaced slightly above the latter so as not to interfere with movement ofthe belt. Rail 225 extends from a point adjacent the end of roller 194to a point adjacent to but clear of interference with row A of thebottles being carried by the gripping fingers.

A similar, but slightly longer side rail 227 is secured to l-beam 37 bymeans of angle brackets 228, so that the lower edge of rail 227 is justabove the other edge of belt 188. A pair of spaced bars 229 extendacross belt 188 above the tops of the bottles being carried by the belt,and are welded to the upper ends of brackets 230 which in turn arewelded to the side rails 225 and 227.

Between and parallel to the side rails 225 and 227, are arranged aplurality of equally spaced, alternately short and long guide rails 231and 232, respectively, which guide rails are about the same width asside rails 225 and 227. The spaces defined by the guide rails 231 and`232 are slightly wider than the largest diameter of the bottles whichwill pass between the guide rails. In this instance the guide rails 231and 232 are secured in proper position by means of rods 233, the lowerends of which are welded to the upper edges of the guide rails, whiletheir threaded upper ends extend through openings in bars 229 to whichthey are held by nuts 234. The lower edges of the guide rails 231 and232 are spaced just above the belt 188 so as not to interfere withmovement of the latter, and the outer ends of these guide rails extendto a point adjacent the end of roller 194, as indicated in Fig. 15. l

ln front of each short rail 231, a small agitating plate 235 isarranged. These plates 235 are fixed to a transverse shaft 236 extendingabove the tops of the bottles moving with belt 138, which shaft isjournaled for rocking movement in bearing brackets 237 welded on theupper surface of I-beams 36 and 37. As more clearly shown in Fig. 24,one end of shaft 236 has an arm 238 fixed thereto for rocking movementfrom its full line position to its broken line position and vice versa,which movement is obtained through conventional crank and eccentricmechanism 239 operated from shaft 240 of roller 194. Thus, plates 235are continuously agitated to a limited extent in front of guide rails231 while the belt 188 is in motion.

It is believed to be apparent that as the bottles move on belt 18S intheir respective rows A', B', C and D from the bottle dischargestations, they will come into contact with the front edge of guide rails232 and pass to each side thereof and into the spaces between the guiderails 231 and 232, as Well as between the guide rails and the side rails225 and 227. The bottles will also contact the front edges of theagitating plates 235, which will prevent jamming of the bottles at theentrances to the spaces between the guide rails, and at the same timepermit the bottles to pass by each side of these plates. In the event abottle jam of serious proportions should occur at the entrance to theguides and the bottles pile up `in front of the guides, one of thebottleskwill eventually contact an arm 241 of a microswitch 242, whichis connected by conventional means to motor 71, and movement of arm 241will shut off motor 71, thus stopping further movement of the bottlegripping fingers and the crate conveyors until the jam has been cleared.

In the normal operation of the machine, however, the bottles will bedelivered by belt 188 in parallel rows to a washing machine or otherapparatus, indicated by the letter W.

As long as the bottles are upright in their crates when they enter themachine, the crates with bottles therein will pass from a feedinconveyor, indicated by the letter X in Fig. l, and which may be manuallyor otherwise operated, down the inclined conveyor 43. Asthe bottles passinto the path of travel of the gripping fingers they will be picked upand carried by the fingers to be discharged by the latter upon conveyor72, which in turn will carry the bottles to a washing machine or otherapparatus. At the same time the empty crates will be carried out of theway. The operation of the machine under normal conditions is continuousfrom the time the crates with their bottles start down the inclinedconveyor 43 until the bottles are delivered to the washing machine andthe empty crates are carried away. 1t has been found that best resultsare obtained if the conveyors that are driven from motor 71, namely thecrate and bottle conveyor the fingery carrying conveyor 137, and thesmall bottle conveyor 159, are operated at uniform speeds. and asatisfactory speed has been determined to be about five feet per minute.lt is preferred, however, that conveyor 172, operated from motor 200, bedriven at a slightly higher speed of about six feet per minute.

In order to prevent the entry into the machine of any upside down bottlethat might happen to be in one of the crates, 1 provide safety mechanismwhich will stop the motor 71 before such bottle can damage the machine.As best s'hown in Figs; 16; 17, 18 and 19, a shaft 243 is mounted forturning movement between the inclined portions 29 of beams 27v adjacentthe upper ends thereof, and this shaft has a pair of threaded rods 244fixed thereon in spaced relation, said rods being offset forwardly ofthis shaft. Rods 244 are secured to shaft 243 by a coupling 245 havinganA opening therethrough which iixedly receives shaft 243, and havinganother opening perpendicular to the first opening through which therods 244 extend. Locking and adjusting nuts 246 are utilized to properlysecure rods 244 to the couplings 245.

The lower ends of rods 2'44 are welded to the top 247 of a safetymember, indicated as a whole by the numeral 248, which has a pluralityof vanes or blades 249 welded to the top 247 and depending therefrom. Asmore clearly shown in Figs. 16 and 19, vanes 249 are arranged inopposite diagonal' formation t'o provide four tapering passages 250which are widest at their front ends and narrow at the rear. The widthof passages 250 is such that the top of a bottle passing through inupright position will readily pass through the narrowest part of thepassages, but an upside down bottle will not go through and will becomelodged in the passages.

One of the end vanes 249 has an elongated bar 251 welded thereto anddepending to a position just above the center of one of the guide rails78. Normally the lower end of bar 251 rests' on the inclined end surface252 of a locking dog 253, the other end of which is pivoted at 254between a pair of spaced ears 255 formed on rail 78. Dog 253 is providedwith a notch 256 intermedia'te its ends, and a projection 257 on thedog, receives one end of a coil spring 258, the opposite end of which issecured to a bracket 259 carried by rail 78. Spring 258 has a normal'bias tending to urge the free end of dog 253 upwardly, but theengagement of bar 251 with the free end of the dog prevents movement ofthe latter while these parts are in the position shown in Fig. 17.

j The top of ea'ch rod 244 has one end of a coil spring 260 securedthereto, while theopposite end of each spring is secured to a bracket261 carried by the inclined portions 29 of beams 27. Springs 260 have anormal b'ias tending to pull the upper ends of rods 244 toward thebrackets 161' and to move the lower ends of rods 244 and the safetymember 248 forward. However, a stop bar 262, welded between' theinclined portions 29 of beams 27, prevents forward movement of rods 244and safety member 248l beyond the position shown in Fig. 17. Shaft 243also carries a cani roller 263 having a notch 264 in its outer peripherythat receives the outer end of a switch arm 265 o'f a microswitch 266carried on one of the beam portions 29, which switch is connected inconventional manner to the motor 71 to stop the latter and the mechanismoperated thereby whenever the switch arm 265 is out of the notch 2'64and is merely riding on the outer surface of roller 263-.

With the parts of the safety mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 17,bottles in upright position in their crates will readily pass throughthe passages 250 in the safety member 248, and even if the top of one ormore of the bottles should strike the sides of vanes 249, the latterwill merely guide the bottles through the narrow end of the passage. lf,however, an upside down bottle in one of the crates should attempt to gothrough one of the passages 250,- the bottom of the bottle is too wideto pass through and' will jam the passage, so that continued movement ofthe bottle in attempting to get through the passage will cause thesafety member 248 and rods 244 to turn rearwardly with shaft 243. Thisturning movement of shaft 243 will also turn cam roller 263 so thatswitch arm 265 moves out of notch 264 and operates the riiic'roswitchy266 to shut off motor 71 and stop the conveyor 43 and other partsoperated by the

